# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Nashville: the parent guide > Nashville is a good city for little kids, with a hands-on science center, a big zoo, a garden with a children’s area, a famous city park and a library system that runs storytimes citywide. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 21 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse (East Nashville) - Pizza with a fenced outdoor playground in East Nashville. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: pizzas ~$12–$16 - Why kids like it: Fenced outdoor playground - Good for: Pizza with a fenced playground; kids eat free on Tuesdays. - Skip if: you’re hungry on a Monday; they’re closed. - Price source: https://boombozz.com/menu (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://boombozz.com ### East Nashville Beer Works (East Nashville (Trinity Lane)) - A big outdoor playground next to the patio, and pizza from the kitchen. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: 10″ pizzas ~$12–$16 - Kids usually order: Pizza - Why kids like it: Large outdoor playground - Good for: A big playground next to the patio while you drink. - Skip if: it’s cold or wet. The playground is outdoors. - In their words: “East Nashville Beer Works has a playground, which is nice” (Heard on City Cast Nashville: “The Best Kid-Friendly Eateries in Nashville”, Nov 2024: https://nashville.citycast.fm/podcasts/the-best-kid-friendly-eateries-in-nashville) - Price source: https://eastnashbeerworks.com/uploads/menus/ENBW-Food-Menu-MAY2026.pdf (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://eastnashbeerworks.com ### The Pancake Pantry (Hillsboro Village) - A longtime Nashville pancake house. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals ~$5–$7, pancakes & plates ~$11–$15 - Hours: Hillsboro Village daily 6am–3pm; Downtown 6am–2pm - Good for: Early birds; it opens at 6am and kids’ plates are about $5–$7. - Skip if: you want lunch late. It closes by 3pm. - Price source: https://thepancakepantry.com/menu (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://thepancakepantry.com ### The Henry (12 South) - A sit-down restaurant with a proper kids menu, for when you want something nicer. - Price level: $$$ - Menu prices: entrées ~$22–$39 - Kids usually order: Little Hank's cheeseburger, Grilled cheese, Mac and cheese, Cheese quesadilla - Good for: A nicer dinner with a real kids’ menu. - Skip if: you’re keeping it cheap; entrées run about $22–$39. - Price source: https://www.thehenryrestaurant.com/menus/?location=nashville (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.thehenryrestaurant.com/locations/nashville/ ### Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint (Several locations) - Whole-hog barbecue in a casual setting. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices (Belmont location): kids’ meals $4.99–$6.49, sandwiches & trays ~$11.49–$24.49 - Good for: Casual barbecue with kids’ meals at $4.99–$6.49. - Skip if: you want a quiet room. - Price source: https://order.toasttab.com/online/martins-belmont (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com ## Indoor play & trampoline parks ### Woodland Play Cafe (East Nashville) - An indoor play cafe in East Nashville. Book ahead. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: first child, 2 hours $27. Plus tax; siblings $20; 1 hour for $15 - Good for: A booked play session for little kids, with a cheaper 1-hour option at $15. - Skip if: you just show up. Book ahead. - Price source: https://www.woodlandplaycafe.com/openplay (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.woodlandplaycafe.com ### Adventure Science Center (Downtown (Fort Negley)) - Hands-on science and a planetarium near downtown. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 2–12 $18; adults $22; Under 2 free - Good for: The best rainy morning, with free parking; under 2 is free. - Skip if: it’s a sunny day you could spend outside. - Price source: https://www.adventuresci.org/visit/pricing/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.adventuresci.org ### Lane Motor Museum (Wedgewood-Houston) - A museum of unusual cars from around the world. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 6–17 $3; adults $15; 5 and under free - Good for: Car-crazy toddlers in one big hall; kids 5 and under are free. - Skip if: your little one isn’t into vehicles. - Price source: https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/visit/visit-lane-motor-museum/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.lanemotormuseum.org ### Sky Zone Nashville (Nashville) - A trampoline park for rainy days. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: Jump tickets from $29.99 - Good for: A rainy-day jump, from $29.99. - Skip if: your toddler is too small for busy open jump. - Price source: https://www.skyzone.com/nashville/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.skyzone.com/nashville/ ## Amusement parks, water parks & pools ### Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (Grassmere) - A zoo with a playground and a carousel. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: Kids 2–12 ($4 less than adults) $21–$24; Adults & teens $25–$28; Under 2 free. Varies by date; parking $10 - Good for: A playground, a carousel and animals before the midday heat; under 2 is free. - Skip if: you forget to budget $10 for parking. - Price source: https://orders.nashvillezoo.org/buy/tickets (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.nashvillezoo.org ### Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort (Hermitage) - A water park on Percy Priest Lake. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets (last season): Closed for the season; Under 48″ $39.99; 48″ and up $59.99; 2 and under free. 2026 gate prices, plus tax - Good for: Summer water-park days; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: it’s fall or winter; the lake water park is closed for the season. - Price source: https://nashvilleshores.com/waterpark/daily-admission/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.nashvilleshores.com ### Centennial Park (West End) - A full-size Parthenon replica and plenty of grass to run on. - Price level: Free - Good for: A free lake loop and playground by the Parthenon. - Skip if: you need indoor options. - Website: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/parks/centennial-park ### Dollywood (Pigeon Forge (day trip, about 3.5 hrs)) - A big theme park in Pigeon Forge, about 3.5 hours away. - Price level: $$$ - Tickets: kids 4–9 $89.99; adults 10–61 $99.99; 3 and under free. Good-any-day 1-day ticket, plus tax; Pick-A-Day adult from $94.99 - Good for: A big ride weekend for preschoolers; 3 and under are free. - Skip if: you’re thinking day trip. It’s 3.5 hours each way. - Price source: https://www.dollywood.com/tickets/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.dollywood.com ## Museums, zoos & farms ### Frist Art Museum (Downtown) - A downtown art museum with a hands-on art gallery. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: adults $20; 18 and under free - Good for: A short visit that costs only the adult ticket; 18 and under are free. - Skip if: you skip the hands-on ArtQuest gallery, which is the toddler draw. - In their words: “My one place, my like top recommendation for this entire episode is the Frist. I have said since I moved here 10 years ago from Brooklyn that the Frist's kids section is better than the Brooklyn Museum's kids section” (Amelia Edelman, City Cast Nashville contributor and parent, on City Cast Nashville: “Nashville’s Best Indoor Activities for Kids”, Jan 2026: https://nashville.citycast.fm/podcasts/nashvilles-best-indoor-activities-for-kids) - Price source: https://fristartmuseum.org/location-hours-admission/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://fristartmuseum.org ### Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Belle Meade) - Gardens with seasonal displays. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 3–17 $13–$19; adults $20–$26; 2 and under free. Daytime price; changes by date - Good for: A morning in the gardens; 2 and under are free. - Skip if: your toddler needs a playground. - In their words: On Cheekwood Harvest, for kids who scare easily: “I think probably Cheekwood Harvest is like such a classic because there's absolutely nothing scary there at all, I don't think. It's mostly just like flowers and pumpkins and the cute little pumpkin houses” (Heard on City Cast Nashville: “The Best Fall Festivals and Halloween Fun for Kids in Nashville”, Oct 2026: https://nashville.citycast.fm/podcasts/the-best-fall-festivals-and-halloween-fun-for-kids-in-nashville) - Price source: https://cheekwood.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://cheekwood.org ### Lucky Ladd Farms (Eagleville (about 45 min)) - A farm park in Eagleville with animals. - Price level: $ - Tickets: Tickets from $10; Under 2 free. Price changes by date and time - Good for: Farm animals about 45 minutes out; under 2 is free. - Skip if: you want to stay close to the city. - Price source: https://www.luckyladdfarms.com/pricing.html (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.luckyladdfarms.com ### Country Music Hall of Fame (Downtown) - Costumes, instruments and music history downtown. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 6–12 $21.95; adults $31.95. Local kids 18 and under free - Good for: Music-loving older kids, with tickets for ages 6–12. - Skip if: you have under-5s; it’s glass cases and long halls. - Price source: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/select-your-experience (checked 2026-10-17) - Website: https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org ## Staycation spots ### Gaylord Opryland Resort (Opryland) - Acres of indoor gardens under glass. The SoundWaves water park is only included with its own overnight package. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: Wandering huge indoor gardens on a cold day. - Skip if: you’re counting on the water park; it only comes with its own overnight package. - Website: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/overview/ ### Montgomery Bell State Park (Burns (about 45 min)) - A lodge and cabins by a lake west of town. - Price level: $$ - Good for: A lakeside lodge night about 45 minutes west. - Skip if: you want downtown Nashville sights. - Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/montgomery-bell ### Omni Nashville Hotel (Downtown) - A downtown hotel connected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. - Price level: $$$ - Good for: Staying downtown next to the Hall of Fame. - Skip if: you want a quiet night; downtown Broadway gets loud. - Website: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/nashville ### Fall Creek Falls State Park (Spencer (day trip, about 2 hrs)) - Lakeside cabins and a lodge near a 256-foot waterfall, one of the tallest in the eastern U.S. - Price level: $$ - Good for: Cabins near a 256-foot waterfall, about 2 hours away. - Skip if: you’re pushing a stroller on rugged trails. - Website: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/fall-creek-falls ## Free things to do - Centennial Park - Nashville Public Library, Main Library In their words: On the Main Library puppet shows: “They are amazed that for a solid 30 minutes, … kids will sit still and find themselves lost in a story” (Bret Grigsby Wilson, program manager, Wishing Chair Productions (the library’s puppet troupe), on City Cast Nashville: “Backstage With the Nashville Public Library’s 80-Year-Old Puppet Program”, Sep 2026: https://nashville.citycast.fm/podcasts/backstage-with-the-nashville-public-librarys-80-year-old-puppet-program) ## Best for under 3s - **Adventure Science Center**: Hands-on exhibits that toddlers can reach and touch. - **Nashville Public Library, Main Library**: Board books, floor space and storytimes for the littlest. - **Frist Art Museum**: Free for kids, so a short visit costs only the adult ticket. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Babies and Books** (Williamson County Public Library): Tuesdays at 9:30am and 10:30am · Main Library, Children's Activity Room (1314 Columbia Ave, Franklin). Newborn to 18 months. Stories and songs for babies and caregivers. https://www.wcpltn.org/calendar.aspx?view=list - **Baby Discovery** (John P. Holt Brentwood Library): Mondays at 11am · Storytime Room (8109 Concord Rd, Brentwood). 6 weeks to 24 months. Sensory and motor play using sight, sound and touch. The library also holds a Baby Bounce (up to 18 months) on some Thursdays at 9:30am, such as Oct 29. https://brentwood-tn.libcal.com/event/17124048 ### Babies get in free - **Adventure Science Center**: Under 2 free. https://www.adventuresci.org/visit/pricing/ - **Nashville Zoo at Grassmere**: Under 2 free. https://orders.nashvillezoo.org/buy/tickets - **Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort**: 2 and under free. https://nashvilleshores.com/waterpark/daily-admission/ - **Dollywood**: 3 and under free. https://www.dollywood.com/tickets/ - **Frist Art Museum**: 18 and under free. https://fristartmuseum.org/location-hours-admission/ - **Cheekwood Estate & Gardens**: 2 and under free. https://cheekwood.org/visit/ - **Lucky Ladd Farms**: Under 2 free. https://www.luckyladdfarms.com/pricing.html ### Changing tables and nursing rooms - **Adventure Science Center**: An adult-size changing table in the family restroom, and a nursing room on the first floor. ### Stroller notes - **Adventure Science Center**: Strollers aren’t allowed in the planetarium theater. - **Nashville Zoo at Grassmere**: Strollers rent first come, first served ($11 single, $13 double). ## Library storytimes - **Nashville Public Library**: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Baby, toddler and family storytimes at branches across Davidson County, including Main, North, Looby and Thompson Lane. https://library.nashville.org/ ## Happening this week - **Cheekwood Harvest** (9am–5pm (closed Monday)) at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens. Adults $20–$26, youth 3–17 $13–$19, 2 and under free; timed tickets required, parking fee. https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/#e-cheekwood_harvest - **The Library Visits the Frist** (Thu 10–11am) at Frist Art Museum. Free (registration required). https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/#e-the_library_visits_the_frist - **Halloween Spooktacular (Edmondson Pike)** (Sat 2–4pm) at Nashville Public Library – Edmondson Pike. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/#e-halloween_spooktacular_edmondson_pike - **Puppet Truck: Hansel and Gretel (Madison)** (Fri 10:30–11:30am) at Nashville Public Library – Madison. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/#e-puppet_truck_hansel_and_gretel_madison - **The Stellars – Mission: Green (Planetarium Show)** (11:15am–12pm) at Adventure Science Center – Sudekum Planetarium. Planetarium $10 plus general admission ($22 adults, $18 ages 2–12, under 2 free). https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/#e-the_stellars_mission_green Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Nashville: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Nashville for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is the Adventure Science Center worth it for a toddler? Yes, as a morning outing. The exhibits are hands-on, so toddlers can touch and press things. Pick one or two areas and leave before nap. ### What are the best free things to do with little kids in Nashville? Centennial Park, library storytimes and the Main Library cost nothing. Check each listing above for details. ### What can we do in Nashville with a toddler when it rains? The Adventure Science Center, the State Museum and the Main Library are all indoors, and branch libraries run storytimes on weekdays. ### What’s good for babies and kids under 3 in Nashville? Adventure Science Center: Hands-on exhibits that toddlers can reach and touch. Nashville Public Library, Main Library: Board books, floor space and storytimes for the littlest. Frist Art Museum is also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: Lane Motor Museum (5 and under free), Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (Under 2 free), Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort (2 and under free) and Frist Art Museum (18 and under free). See [best for under 3s](https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/guide/#under3). ### Where are the free storytimes in Nashville? Nashville Public Library: Weekly; days and times vary by branch. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [Nashville weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/nashville/). ### How do you choose the places in the Nashville guide? Every one of the 21 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 16 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### How much is Nashville Zoo at Grassmere for a toddler, and who gets in free? Under 2 free; kids 2–12 ($4 less than adults): $21–$24; adults & teens: $25–$28 (varies by date; parking $10). We checked this on [its official site](https://orders.nashvillezoo.org/buy/tickets) on Oct 17, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.